Coffee Talk

The votes are in and the results are official. Out of an incredible pool of finalists, five stood out for the depth of their strategy, the rigor of their data and the results they drove for their business. Congratulations to this year's Social Intelligence Awards winners. Best in Social IntelligenceThis flagship award is for organizations placing social intelligence at the center of business strategy. The winner is: Makenzie Bowker, City of Hope — ​@makenzie.bowkerMakenzie's team brought real-time community insights directly into campaign development and patient care initiatives, building the organization's first centralized storytelling hub along the way. Precision ImpactThis award recognizes measurable business growth and ROI driven by full-funnel social insights. The winner is: Chelsey Godfrey, Cornerstone Building Brands — ​@chelsey.godfreyChelsey centralized reporting across 35 brands into automated, brand-specific insights, a shift that helped drive a 122% year-over-year jump in

Hey everyone!The nominations are in, the panel has deliberated and it's time to celebrate the social pros who are turning data into real business impact. Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination this year — the caliber of work made this tough.Without further ado, here are your finalists.Best in Social IntelligenceBritta Purcell, The Recording Academy — ​@brittapurcell  Makenzie Bowker, City of Hope — ​@makenzie.bowker  Marisa Shaffer, B Squared Media — ​@marisa.shaffer Precision ImpactJulie C. Cochran, Merz Aesthetics — ​@Julie Cochran  Valeria Sillani, EasyVista — ​@valeria.sillani  Nicki Kollar, Valparaiso University — ​@nicki.kollar  Hannah Orrell, AMN Healthcare — ​@hannah.orrell  Chelsey Godfrey, Cornerstone Building Brands — ​@chelsey.godfrey Predictive EdgeAshley Manivong, BMC — ​@ashley.manivong  Pankaj Kumar, Atlas Copco Group — ​@PankajKumar Social SynergyTaylor Witt, Kansas State — ​@taylorwitt  Maria Policelli-Sohrabi, Teranet — ​@maria.policelli-sohrabi  Marie Obsu

HEY FRIENDS!BEING A SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER CAN BE AMAZING AND SOMETIMES REALLY OVERWHELMING. SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO CREATE A LITTLE SPACE FOR US TO VENT, YELL, LAUGH, CELEBRATE, WHATEVER YOU NEED! THIS IS A SAFE SPACE FOR US TO SHARE.SO WITH THAT, COMMENT BELOW WITH SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN ON YOUR MIND. THE ONLY ASK IS THAT WE KEEP IT KIND. :) 

We’re back with our last question of the week to celebrate Social Media Day next week on June 30th! Thank YOU all so much for participating in this weekly series. We hope that you had as much fun as we did getting to celebrate all of your wins. For the final week, forget the viral stats for a second. We want to know about the project that felt most authentic to you—the one where you felt like a true master of your craft. What’s a piece of work you’re proud of because of the craft or message behind it?Drop your thoughts below and let us know what work that you’re most proud of! We can’t wait to celebrate all of your awesome work. P.S. Next Tuesday on June 30th, we’ll be chatting with Zaria Parvez where she will being sharing honest reflections on how high-performing social teams protect their energy, prove impact, and grow their careers. Sign up here.

To celebrate World Social Media Day on June 30th, we’re dedicating this entire month to uplifting and spotlighting you. We know the massive effort it takes to manage channels and communities every day, so we’re launching a weekly series right here in the community to spark some well-deserved joy and connection.For week one, let’s talk about visibility and appreciation. Whether it’s a major win or a small daily victory, how do you like to be recognized for your work? It could be a shout-out in an all-company meeting, a surprise bonus, or a quiet thank you from a customer in the DMs. This is all about honoring the incredible impact you make behind the scenes every day.Your work deserves the spotlight. We’ll be passing your responses along to our social team for a potential feature on our brand channels. Think of it as public inspiration to give your leadership team some great ideas on exactly how to celebrate you when June 30th rolls around.Drop your thoughts below and let us know what k

We’re back again to kick off the second week of our June celebration leading up to World Social Media Day on June 30th. We hope that you're enjoying our weekly series dedicated to uplifting the incredible people behind the handles!For week 2, let’s talk about how working in social requires immense emotional bandwidth. To maintain sustainable creativity, we have to know how to protect our energy and truly unplug.Let’s say that you’ve been given a surprise day off: What are you doing first?Drop your thoughts below and let us know how you like to celebrate during your much deserved time off!On June 16th and 17th (depending on your time zone) we’ll be hosting a Meditation Session right here in The Arboretum for you to unwind and relax. Hope to see you there! Also, make sure that you save your spot for our June 30 webinar on building a long-term, fulfilling career in this space featuring Zaria Parvez! 

We’re halfway through our June celebration leading up to World Social Media Day on June 30. We hope you're enjoying our weekly series dedicated to uplifting the incredible people behind the handles.For week three, let’s talk about milestones. We spend our lives navigating the noise of the internet, but occasionally, a follower reminds us exactly why we do this work. Whether it’s a touching customer story, a hilarious meme reaction or a simple message of gratitude, some comments stick with you forever. What is the favorite comment you’ve received on content you created?Let’s fill this thread with real positivity. Share your favorite comment received in the thread below, and grab your seat for the webinar happening on June 30th: Navigating Social Burnout and Career Growth with Zaria Parvez 

Hey social pros! We know that this industry moves at a frequency so fast it can be difficult to find a moment of stillness. Between the constant pulse of market trends and the need for immediate, strategic action, your mental bandwidth is often stretched to the limit. As part of our Social Media Day 2026 celebrations, we’re hosting a dedicated session to help you step away from the notifications and reconnect.This guided meditation is designed specifically for The Arboretum community. We’ll focus on quietening the digital noise and sharpening your focus, ensuring you can return to your strategy with the clarity and confidence. Join your fellow social professionals for a restorative break.We have a few sessions running from June 16th and 17th depending on your time zone, so please register for one that works best for you. You can sign-up here.  

I’m excited to share that for the 10th year in a row, Sprout Social has been recognized by G2’s Best Software Awards. This year, we’ve been named a top company in six key categories, including Best Software Products and Highest Satisfaction Products.To our customers: Thank you.G2 rankings are based on authentic reviews from real users. That means this recognition comes directly from you, our customers who push us to be better and share the candid feedback that shapes our roadmap.2025 was an incredible year for Sprout. We focused on AI-powered innovations designed to help you better engage with your audience and turn social data into actionable intelligence. From launching our proprietary AI agent Trellis and acquiring NewsWhip to reimagining our Influencer Marketing platform and introducing new integrations like Bluesky and TikTok Listening, we unlocked even more ways to connect insights across the social ecosystem.When celebrating this milestone, it felt right to spotlight the voices

Opt-ins for May Networking are open.This month, we’re moving beyond just gathering data. We’re focusing on Social Intelligence—the art of transforming Social Insights into a clear competitive advantage that guides your entire organization. Peer ConnectA 1:1 discussion with someone who gets itSIGN UP NOW​​MentorshipElevate your career through 1:1 relationships as a mentor or menteeSIGN UP NOWSprout User ConnectJoin fellow users 1:1 to share knowledge and strategiesSIGN UP NOW What is The Arboretum Networking Program? Learn more about our virtual and in person networking options here. 

Opt-ins for April Networking are open.This month, we are featuring an exclusive Social Listening Trellis user Group Connect focused entirely on prompt writing. We know crafting the perfect prompt is the secret to uncovering deep insights instantly and we want to help you master it.🌟 Featured this month: Trellis Group Connect 🌟An exclusive Sprout Social Listening user Trellis Group Connect. Master the art of prompt writing for Trellis in Social Listening to uncover deep insights instantly.➡️ Opt-in for Social Listening Trellis User Group Connect Regularly scheduled programming:For Peer Connect, Sprout User Connect and Mentorship this month, we are diving into how to leverage Social Intelligence across established and emerging networks. This is your chance to connect with a peer and discuss how you turn the real-time pulse of the market into smart decisions your entire business can act on. Opt-in now!Peer ConnectA 1:1 discussion with someone who gets itSIGN UP NOW Sprout User ConnectJo

Hey friends!You might have heard us talk about bringing the magic of this community into the real world, and today we’re officially kicking off the journey. Before we open up host applications to everyone, we’re running a small pilot to fine-tune the experience.We have our first three Local Guides stepping up to host casual hangouts this month, and we’d love for you to join them!📍 The Lineup:If you’re in one of these cities, grab your spot now (the first round is on Sprout!):Ferndale, MI: 3/19 at 9am — Hosted by ​@melissa.macgregor at Drifter Coffee. Register Here Atlanta, GA: 3/20 at 6pm — Hosted by ​@Anna Laura McGranahan at Distillery of Modern Art. Register Here🌍 Don’t see your city yet?Don’t worry—this is just the beginning. We’ll be opening up the full Arboretum IRL program very soon, where you can apply to host your own local shop talk session, pick your favorite spot, and have Sprout Social pick up the tab.The goal is simple: No slides, no pitches—just real conversations with

Our latest round of community networking is officially open. This month we are focusing on how we all find the balance between leveraging AI for efficiency and maintaining the human authenticity that drives real connection.We have Peer to Peer, Mentorship and Group Connect options ready for you to jump in and talk through the tactics and challenges of your social strategy. Each format offers a space to share what is working and where we are all still experimenting with these tools.How it works this round:Opt in now until March 23 to secure your spot Check your inbox on March 26 to meet your new match Peer ConnectA 1:1 discussion with someone who gets itSIGN UP NOWPeer GroupA tiny squad for your biggest ideasSIGN UP NOWMentorshipElevate your career through 1:1 relationships as a mentor or menteeSIGN UP NOWMost chats are just 30 minutes. Secure your spot now to swap notes on what is actually driving the most impact across every network.What is The Arboretum Network? Learn more here. 

Networking opt-ins for this month are officially open! This month we are focusing on social search strategies to keep our content front and center during discovery. Whether you want to talk through specific search optimization workflows, brainstorm discovery tactics or share long-term guidance on navigating the social intelligence space—this month is for you. How it works this round:Opt in now until February 23 to secure your spot Check your inbox on February 26 to meet your new matchPeer ConnectA 1:1 discussion with someone who gets itSIGN UP NOWPeer GroupA tiny squad for your biggest ideasSIGN UP NOWMentorshipElevate your career through 1:1 relationships as a mentor or menteeSIGN UP NOWMost chats are just 30 minutes. Secure your spot now to swap notes on what is actually driving the most impact across every network.What is The Arboretum Network? Learn more here. 

To help you head into the new year with one less thing on your to-do list, we have opened the next round of The Arboretum Network with an extended holiday opt-in window. Our focus for this round is year-end Reporting.Whether you want to compare notes on your yearly wrap up deck, find a mentor to help you navigate performance reviews or just connect with peers who understand exactly what your workload looks like right now, The Arboretum Network is the place to do it. Think of this as a gift to your future self—a support system waiting for you in January so you don't have to face reporting season alone.How it works this round:Opt in now to secure your spot for Peer Connect, Mentorship, or Sprout User Connect. Focus on closing out the year and taking whatever downtime you can grab. Check your inbox on January 5th to meet your new match.We know how hard it is to fully disconnect at any time of year, but we hope that this extended opt-in and expanded offerings in The Arboretum Network easy

Hey Everyone!We have all survived the year-end reporting marathon and the "what is the 2026 plan?" messages from leadership. But let’s be real—staring at a blank strategy deck while trying to remember which 2025 trends actually moved the needle is a lot to handle alone.Instead of spiraling in your own data, come talk it out. The Arboretum Network is officially open for a new round of pairings to help you turn last year's lessons into this year's growth. Whether you want a quick 1:1 vibe check or a small group brainstorm to pressure-test your big bets, we have a spot for you.How it works this round:Opt in now until January 26th to secure your spot for Peer Connect, Peer Group, or Sprout User Connect. Check your inbox on January 29th to meet your new match.  Peer ConnectA 1:1 strategy swap with someone who gets itSIGN UP NOWPeer Group A tiny squad for your biggest 2026 ideasSIGN UP NOWSprout User ConnectSwap all the workflow secrets and reporting hacksSIGN UP NOWMost chats are just 30 mi

Welcome to The Arboretum Network thread. Since we only open matching for a short window during the third week of every month, you might have arrived while our doors are temporarily closed. If that’s the case, don’t worry—we’d still love to get you in the mix for the next round.Social moves quickly and sometimes the best way to keep up is to connect with someone who speaks your language. Whether you want to geek out over analytics, find a mentor or just navigate the latest platform changes with a peer who gets it, this program is designed to help you build those meaningful relationships.Don’t miss the next window! If the opt-in period is currently closed, simply fill out the short form below. We will make sure you get a reminder email the moment we open up for next month’s session so you can secure your spot.Join the waitlistLooking for more details on matching types or the program schedule? Return to The Arboretum Network Landing Page